Uttar Pradesh is readying for a statewide large mock drill on Jan. 23, 2026, to gauge preparedness for an all-out emergency. A planned blackout of city districts and sounding of sirens will be included in the drill to simulate an emergency situation. Coordinated by the Civil Defense Department, the exercise is intended to measure how well authorities, institutions and citizens react in the case of extraordinary situations, such as a natural disaster, power failure or a threat to public safety.
This drill was intended to enhance disaster resilience and raise public awareness. By doing so, authorities say they will see how and when emergency services respond to a blackout as well as how effectively citizens follow orders about what to do if it seems dangerous. In a state as large and diverse as Uttar Pradesh, rife with hazards like floods and earthquakes or industrial accidents, such drills are crucial for preparedness.
The blackout drill runs from 6 PM on January 23 and it will be applied to all 75 districts of the state Uttar Pradesh. Key cities including Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Mathura will join, along with small towns and villages. Special drills, performed by volunteers and staff, will take place at medical colleges including Siddharthnagar Medical College. As part of the exercise, lights will be turned off, sirens will be sounded, and rescue and safety crews will perform safety operations.
Civil defense teams will be in charge of coordinating the drill. Wardens and officers will monitor sirens and alerts to ensure they are properly managed, while district administrations have already had meetings to confirm priorities and assign responsibilities. At least 50 volunteers in Siddharthnagar alone will take part, with other districts slated for similar numbers. Hospitals and colleges will test their emergency response systems, which include backup power but also patient evacuation procedures, as they prepare for potential life and death situations.
The authorities say the blackout is planned and is safe and warned citizens to avoid panic. Instead, people are being encouraged to take the drill as a learning experience. By listening to the sirens and the blackout, people will learn what to do in a real emergency. The drill is intended to build trust with the masses and the emergency services, demonstrating that they have systems in place to protect them.
So here a symbolic significance also comes with the timing of the drill, which is for the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Netaji was one of the courageous, and in many ways the best-of-leadership figures ever, so his legacy comes back to things like preparedness and resilience. Relating the drill to today emphasizes the necessity of preparedness for facing the challenges and encourages citizens to take the drill seriously.
Mock exercises such as this are necessary for system testing, staff training, citizen education and disaster-management plan planning. They ensure that sirens and backup power and communication channels operate correctly, enabling emergency responders to see that they have real-time practice. For citizens, the drill serves as a reminder to remain calm and to heed their orders and recognize preparedness as part of a collective force.
Final thoughts, The statewide blackout mock drill on January 23 is a major step towards improving emergency preparedness in Uttar Pradesh. Bringing defense teams and medical institutions together with citizens during the exercise is also an excellent way to learn how the state deals with crises. For residents, it’s a reminder to be alert, work with authorities, and consider preparedness part of daily life. When sirens blare and lights dim, the drill will signify less fear than preparedness and resilience for next steps.
